The included Berlin excursion

[Dauntless]

This is billed as a 12 hour excursion but from what I'm reading on the reviews, this is not the case. Everyone seems to agree the trip there and back takes three hours each way. Then people seem to be on different excursions. I am reading that you have two to three hours in Berlin. So we seem to be missing three or four hours of this excursion. Maybe there is a guided part of the tour that takes up that time(it has been mentioned in some reviews) but I do not think people are including that as part of the time in the city. If it was included it would make about six hours in Berlin with part of that being "free" time. If this is what people are meaning it seems to get lost between the lines. Does the whole excursion take 12 hours? I'm just trying to get an idea of what to expect. Please let me know. Thanks

[Symmes99]

We did the included Berlin excursion two days ago. We left at 8:15, arrived just outside of city center at around 11:20 to pick up a local guide. My wife and I left the tour there and took a taxi to city center to meet our own guide we booked in advance for a walking tour. The Viking excursion continued from there for a 2-hour panoramic tour, followed by around 2 hours of free time. My wife and I rejoined the bus at 3:15, the designated end of free time. Others were late so we didn't leave for the ship until around 3:30. We were back on the ship at 7:00. The bus made a restroom stop each leg, and there was no traffic at all. So our 12 hour tour was really 10 hours 45 minutes. We wound up spending 3.5 hours with our private guide, less than expected but given the very hot day that was ok (and she charged by the hour). Had I known the duration in advance I would have just stayed with Viking and not bothered with a private guide. But Viking could not give the timeframes before the cruise and the shorex staff on board did not have it right either (they thought we'd have 5 or 5.5 hours total in Berlin). Nevertheless, we enjoyed our short visit to Berlin and are glad we made the long bus trip.

[roothy123]

This may not be relevant as we were not on Viking, and not on a ship's excursion. However, just in case it's helpful for some people, here it is: We rented a car and drove to the outskirts of Berlin, then took a commuter train to center city. We had planned to spend about 5 hours in the city before heading back in time to get back for late dinner. We spent about 3 1/2 hours in Berlin, including a bit of walking, one short bus ride, and one "pedicab"). We found that after about 3 1/2 hours of sightseeing we were tired and ready to go back. While we certainly didn't see everything there was to see, we felt we saw enough to get an idea of what Berlin was all about. I suppose we could have stopped in a cafe for a break to get us going again, but in the end, decided not to push ourselves. It taught me that it's easy to plan a full day of sightseeing but there are times when you just want to take it easy and curtail your ambitious plans!

 

If traffic is still a problem approaching Berlin, you might want to consider taking the train from Warnemunde. We were there on a Sunday and service wasn't good, but if the Star gets there early enough on a non-Sunday, that might be an option, as the train is faster than driving. When we were there, an express train went in each direction once a day. Obviously you wouldn't get the benefits of a tour guide in the city, but with a little planning and research it's pretty easy to DIY.

Edited July 7, 2015 by roothy123
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[MJ752015]

Thank you for that timeline in Berlin. Where did you meet the bus for the return to the ship?

[cassandra44]

The excursion into Berlin took 3 hours and then we were joined by a guide who took us past the main sights - Reischstag, stopped at Brandenburg gate (briefly) (Berlin wall - also briefly) but when it's a bus tour you don't really get a good sense of things. I think that was one hour plus for the tour. Then we were on our own for just over 2 hours (but we had to have lunch) so not much time to do anything. We were asked to be at Checkpoint Charlie to pick up the bus...In the meantime we just had time for lunch and a quick walk. Then drive back to the ship...which in our case took almost 4 hours because a bridge was closed. Back in time for dinner.

We really just got a quick look at Berlin but since I had never been before I'm okay with that.

My spouse had been in Berlin in the sixties and found the quick in and out very disappointing and he was particularly disappointed with Checkpoint Charlie since they have turned it into a silly spot so people can take photos posed with soldiers. He remembers the grim reality from years past - but the present day reality is a bit of a farce. I do wish we had had 2 days there so we could have stayed overnight in a Berlin hotel and then returned to the ship.

[Dauntless]

I want to thank everyone for your input. If the pick up spot is "Checkpoint Charlie", I assume we should probably look for a restaurant in that area if we do real lunch.

[Symmes99]

On the ship, the shore excursion staff said the bus would pick us up at Gendarmenmarkt. But once on the bus, the guide said there was a fashion show at Gendarmenmarkt that day so the pickup point was changed to the Museum of the Wall near the silly Checkpoint Charlie photo stop. Best to check once you are on your tour because the only person who seems to know for certain is the guide on the bus.

[Dauntless]

On the ship, the shore excursion staff said the bus would pick us up at Gendarmenmarkt. But once on the bus, the guide said there was a fashion show at Gendarmenmarkt that day so the pickup point was changed to the Museum of the Wall near the silly Checkpoint Charlie photo stop. Best to check once you are on your tour because the only person who seems to know for certain is the guide on the bus.

 

Do you remember where you picked up the guide and where you got off? I figure you had to make arrangements with your private guide.

[bsrkent]

So here is the issue with the included Berlin tour... it is really two tours from two different companies.

 

The round trip bus transportation is one company that provides a union driver and an escort, who is usually a young language student to help with translations. They drive you the 3+ hr trip with one bathroom stop (have euro coins) to Charlottenburg Palace, where the driver took a break and where a local guide from another company came on board the bus for a 2+hr Berlin city bus tour, with a couple of photo stops (off the bus) that ended with your Berlin 'free time' of ~ 2+hr. We were to meet up with the bus (and escort) at a predetermined time near check point Charlie for the return 3+hr , with bathroom stop, ride back to the port. The escort was very young and mostly silent, the Berlin guide was experienced and excellent.

 

Some members on our bus had made plans for private guides or local friends for lunch and they were assisted by cell phone either by the escort or local guide to arrange meeting times and locations.

 

Like all of our other Viking included excursions the results varied widely based on the luck of the draw for your individual guide... our escort was pretty poor, our union driver dominated events, but our Berlin guide was excellent. We were on one of three buses (each ~75% full) and other buses got different results so YMMV but all were helpful for different private plans once in Berlin, as they each arrange their own pick-up drop-off locations by cell, unknown to Viking.

 

While, of course, we would have liked more time in the city, but all things considered this was a pretty good value.

Hope this helps...

Edited July 9, 2015 by bsrkent
Clarification

[Dauntless]

So here is the issue with the included Berlin tour... it is really two tours from two different companies.

 

The round trip bus transportation is one company that provides a union driver and an escort, who is usually a young language student to help with translations. They drive you the 3+ hr trip with one bathroom stop (have euro coins) to Charlottenburg Palace, where the driver took a break and where a local guide from another company came on board the bus for a 2+hr Berlin city bus tour, with a couple of photo stops (off the bus) that ended with your Berlin 'free time' of ~ 2+hr. We were to meet up with the bus (and escort) at a predetermined time near check point Charlie for the return 3+hr , with bathroom stop, ride back to the port. The escort was very young and mostly silent, the Berlin guide was experienced and excellent.

 

Some members on our bus had made plans for private guides or local friends for lunch and they were assisted by cell phone either by the escort or local guide to arrange meeting times and locations.

 

Like all of our other Viking included excursions the results varied widely based on the luck of the draw for your individual guide... our escort was pretty poor, our union driver dominated events, but our Berlin guide was excellent. We were on one of three buses (each ~75% full) and other buses got different results so YMMV but all were helpful for different private plans once in Berlin, as they each arrange their own pick-up drop-off locations by cell, unknown to Viking.

 

While, of course, we would have liked more time in the city, but all things considered this was a pretty good value.

Hope this helps...

 

Thank you Texas for showing me the way. We got to stick together. We just got our own UNESCO World Heritage Site but, I'm still going to Europe to see what the rest of the world has to offer!

[Symmes99]

Do you remember where you picked up the guide and where you got off? I figure you had to make arrangements with your private guide.

The first stop in Berlin on the Viking tour was Charlottenburg Palace. This is just outside I'd the city center. We stopped there to pick up the local guide who would then conduct the panoramic tour. We all got off the bus for a few minutes to take photos of the Palace. My wife and I did not get back on the bus. Instead, we grabbed a taxi and headed to a restaurant in the city center where we met our private guide. We had a quick lunch, then started our walking tour.

[bsrkent]

Yes, Dauntless, 'Remember the Alamo' or is it PC to say that any more with all the Hispanic, illegal immigration stuff going on these days. Often wonder just who decides what is PC anyway... but I digress

 

When I attempted to edit my post last night, for clarity, I still don't think I may had made it clear. The point is/was that the bus escort and the Berlin guide arrange the place and time for the guide pick up (the Palace is on the outskirts of Berlin) and the guide drop off (the check point is more center of town) where your 'free time' begins and ends. These points/times may vary based on travel time, traffic, available parking... and all of this is transparent to Viking, as it happens based on conditions at the time.

 

It is possible to have ~ 4 hrs of free time in Berlin, if your private guide meets you at the bus guide pick up point, then drops you at the prearranged drop off spot by the bus departure time. This was done by a couple on our bus who indicated that the bus guide was very helpful using her own cell to coordinate.

 

Lastly, keep in mind that were the first Viking Ocean bus tour visitors to Berlin, well one of three bus loads that left at staggered 15 minute departures and all taking a different amount of time to complete the round trip, so things may have adapted some. Again.. HTH

[eaglewatchers]

DO NOT, under any circumstances, do the included Berlin tour. We did it. over 7.5 to/from Berlin PLUS "tour time" (also on bus) around Berlin for 2 more hours. To top it off: the bus A/C was broken. Dangerously hot for many on bus. Viking was not responsible for the "bad" bus, but the excursion plan is flawed to start. Tour operator should be held accountable for the A/C issue!

 

Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, etc. simply not worth it. Save those for a future river cruise. We were lured by seeing such "big" things, and really regretted it.

 

Note: We are NOT whiners. LOVED the cruise. This was simply a bad, bad experience on one day.

[Dauntless]

7 and a half hours travel time. 2 hours bus tour time. Any free time? One was quoted as out by 8, Berlin by 11, leaving Berlin around 3:15-3:30 and back to the ship by 6:30. Is still the approximate time frame? My trip is not until mid-September so I don't think air conditioning will be a problem--but one never knows.

[eaglewatchers]

7 and a half hours travel time. 2 hours bus tour time. Any free time? One was quoted as out by 8, Berlin by 11, leaving Berlin around 3:15-3:30 and back to the ship by 6:30. Is still the approximate time frame? My trip is not until mid-September so I don't think air conditioning will be a problem--but one never knows.

 

We actually pulled out around 7:30 ish (?) tho our time was officially 6:45. Arrived in Berlin outskirts about 10:30. Drove around with two VERY brief photo ops until 12:30. Back on bus at 2:30 for drive back. Arrived at ship at almost 7. It was Friday, and traffic was heavy... and there was a northbound highway detour of 30 min. The 2 hr was enough time to get lunch and hang out near the dropoff point. Not enough time to walk to other sites and get back in time for departure. Wanted to go see an exhibit at the remnants of the wall, but it was a 20 min walk and we had only 1 hr once we found, ate, and paid for lunch. People watching was good, though.

 

FYI, Berlin is inland and has temps much more like mid-Atlantic U.S.

 

Good luck!

[Dauntless]

Eaglewatcher--Thanks for filling me in. I had heard there was some grumbling about this excursion so I'm trying to get all the information I can. Our cruise is next September so a lot of things can change and I'll stay flexible but as of right now, these are my plans. I'll be 68 when I make the trip and have never been to Europe or on a cruise, I think we'll go with the group to Berlin and leave the tour at this point. The hop on hop off bus comes by this spot every 10-15 minutes so I plan to join that. It is a narrated tour and takes about 2 hours to make the loop with about 15 stops to linger if inclined. You can also purchase the tour with an hour cruise on the Spree for around 35 Euros. There is a ICE speed train from Berlin to Warnamunde that departs Berlin around 5:40 with arrival at the port around 8:00. That's 2 hours before we sail so we should have some cushion for problems. That's 19 Euros. For that small investment we get to expand our visit and experience the speed train. I know some things could happen to foil the plan but I see it as a "half full' solution to a difficult situation. I'm checking the temps this year. Last year it was a high if 73 on this date. I live in San Antonio, Texas so I know about being 150 miles from the coast. Today it's 99 with high humidity. Kind of makes Berlin seem like an ideal paradise!

[roothy123]

Eaglewatcher--Thanks for filling me in. I had heard there was some grumbling about this excursion so I'm trying to get all the information I can. Our cruise is next September so a lot of things can change and I'll stay flexible but as of right now, these are my plans. I'll be 68 when I make the trip and have never been to Europe or on a cruise, I think we'll go with the group to Berlin and leave the tour at this point. The hop on hop off bus comes by this spot every 10-15 minutes so I plan to join that. It is a narrated tour and takes about 2 hours to make the loop with about 15 stops to linger if inclined. You can also purchase the tour with an hour cruise on the Spree for around 35 Euros. There is a ICE speed train from Berlin to Warnamunde that departs Berlin around 5:40 with arrival at the port around 8:00. That's 2 hours before we sail so we should have some cushion for problems. That's 19 Euros. For that small investment we get to expand our visit and experience the speed train. I know some things could happen to foil the plan but I see it as a "half full' solution to a difficult situation. I'm checking the temps this year. Last year it was a high if 73 on this date. I live in San Antonio, Texas so I know about being 150 miles from the coast. Today it's 99 with high humidity. Kind of makes Berlin seem like an ideal paradise!

 

Glad you could find an ICE train to help reduce the time somewhat. I was going to recommend checking the train schedule, as when we went a couple years ago, there was a morning ICE train that was faster than any trip on a bus, regular bahn.de train (3 1/2 hours), ship's excursion, etc. It left too early for us to catch, though, so we ended up renting a car right next to the port in Warnemunde. We drove to close to Berlin and took a local train to the center city. Not everyone would feel comfortable doing that, but it ended up being fairly easy, affordable, and my husband enjoyed driving on the autobahn.

 

As we were docking we saw an ICE train come in before the ship was cleared for folks to leave. The train station is right there in Warnemuende and we could see it from where the ship docked. I took a picture of where you need to turn to get to the station (although you would be doing it in reverse), but I don't think I still have it. It was pretty easy to find, though.

 

We went to the Wall (the lesser touristy part up north a bit), to the Reichstag/Bundestag (very striking building; you walk up a spiral staircase to the top), the Brandenburg Gate, and a few other places. We didn't go to Checkpoint Charlie (too touristy for us). We ate snacks near the Bundestag and dinner on the drive back to the port. It was an effort to get to Berlin, but I visited back when I was a kid (and the city was divided) and I wanted to see the new Berlin. Here's a link to some of my Baltic pictures:

http://www.pbase.com/roothy123/baltic_cruise_&page=all

 

You'll probably have to scroll down about halfway through the page to see Berlin photos. There are a few more on the next "gallery" on my site, but you would have to backtrack to the "More Baltic" gallery and then go toward the bottom of the gallery to see Berlin. We also enjoyed Warnemuende - nice place. It was a tiring day but a great one, being able to explore just some of Berlin and some of Warnemunde. There's a good place where you can walk to see cruise ships, plus the beach, and all the little restaurants and whatnot. There was a sand sculpture contest going on which we walked by. Being in port at night is kind of special for ocean cruisers, as it doesn't happen all that often, and I wasn't ready to come back onto the ship until I had seen a lot.

Edited August 2, 2015 by roothy123

[huntersyaya]

We got off the cruise last Saturday in Stockholm and had a wonderful trip. We decided in advance to skip Berlin and stay in Warnemaude. We loved the decision we made. This was one of our favorite ports of all. We rode a small tourist tram/train around warnemaude and then explored it by foot. There were dozens of cafes/stands cooking fish/shrimp/etc that had just been pulled out of the water. There were some nice upscale shops and some touristy shops. This is a beachside resort town and it was full of Europeans on holiday. We found it fascinating to watch all the activity and to see the boardwalk and their beach. We went back and forth to the ship 3 different times during the day. It was about a 5 minute walk to "the action". Loved our time there and the ship was pretty empty during the day so it was almost like being on a private yacht.

[Vineyard View]

Hunter stays, we did the same thing and absolutely enjoyed our day! It is a great little beach town and we were delighted that we made that choice as well.

Plus, when we returned to the ship that afternoon is was like having it almost to ourselves.....and that wasn't anything to complain about either!!

[Dauntless]

Roothie--Thanks for that update my solution not only cuts down on travel time but also increases the time in Berlin. With the time to get out and move on our own in the city and move around on the train, it may not seem like we are sardines traveling in a can. That much traveling in an excursion without benefit of stretching could almost feel like crossing the Atlantic in the cargo area of the plane.

 

Departure was scheduled for 6:45 but you left around 7:15. What are the options for breakfast on these early departures?

 

 

Berlin will definitely be on our itinerary as I doubt we will be in the area again. It was never on the "Bucket" List but I feel we would be foolish to be this close and miss out on an opportunity to experience this era of history that I've heard about all my life.

[eaglewatchers]

Roothie--Thanks for that update my solution not only cuts down on travel time but also increases the time in Berlin. With the time to get out and move on our own in the city and move around on the train, it may not seem like we are sardines traveling in a can. That much traveling in an excursion without benefit of stretching could almost feel like crossing the Atlantic in the cargo area of the plane.

 

Departure was scheduled for 6:45 but you left around 7:15. What are the options for breakfast on these early departures?

 

 

Berlin will definitely be on our itinerary as I doubt we will be in the area again. It was never on the "Bucket" List but I feel we would be foolish to be this close and miss out on an opportunity to experience this era of history that I've heard about all my life.

 

They opened World Cafe very early on those days. I think it was 5:30.

[OBX Cruisers]

Sorry, not in a mood to contribute to this discussion right now as Berlin was the first of many ports to be eliminated for us. (We had to cancel a much anticipated "Friends of Dave" tour for Warnemunde. Sure hope you're not trying to sail before they get this engine problem fixed.